Casey O’Neill just absolutely stole the show on the prelims of UFC 331, earning MMA Junkie’s Submission of the Month for September 2026 with a finish that’s going to stick in your mind for ages. Seriously, you had to see this armbar to believe it.
From Trouble To Triumph in Round One
Things kicked off looking pretty dicey for O’Neill. Eduarda Moura, who walked in at 12-3 in MMA compared to O’Neill’s 12-2, grabbed an early takedown right after their first exchange. Moura went straight to work on the ground, dishing out ground-and-pound and trying to lock in submissions. O’Neill was staring down an anaconda choke at one point, in some really awkward positions, and honestly, it felt like she was in deep trouble. But O’Neill, who holds a 7-2 UFC record, stayed unbelievably calm under pressure.
The Helicopter Armbar That Shocked Everyone
Then, out of nowhere, O’Neill found her opening. She somehow got both feet onto Moura’s hips, used that leverage to elevate Moura into the air, and as they came back down, she locked in an armbar. We’re talking an incredibly slick “helicopter armbar” sequence that was so sudden and so tight, Moura had absolutely no choice but to tap immediately. It all unfolded at 3:22 of Round 1, ending the women’s flyweight bout in spectacular fashion and proving why O’Neill is a force to be reckoned with. What a comeback!
September’s Best Finish Takes the Crown
This wasn’t just a random win, it was the best of the best for September. O’Neill beat out some serious competition for the honor, including Tommy Gantt’s submission over Drakkar Klose at Noche UFC, Jean Silva’s finish against Jose Delgado at the same event, and two more from UFC Fight Night 289: Brady Hiestand’s win over Rinya Nakamura and Luis Hernandez’s submission of Sedriques Dumas. O’Neill’s armbar stands alone, easily one of the slickest finishes we’ve seen all year. What’s next for O’Neill after pulling off a move like that? We’re all watching to see if she keeps dropping highlight reel finishes like this!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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